4 Ways to Deal with Spring Stress

In theory, spring is supposed to be the time of year when it’s easy to relax. We don’t expect Spring stress, but of course, we are human. The sun starts shining again, the days get longer, flowers bloom and heavy winter coats get put away. However, according to some studies, The Washington Post reports that there are increased instances of depression in the springtime. These are attributed to the lengthening of daylight which can mess up your chemical regulatory system.

This can also be a symptom of SAD which can be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. A good place to start is by seeing an Allen Counselor to assess your symptoms and feelings. There’s also Easter, a major holiday for some families, and there’s no worse thing than a holiday to increase stress. Here are a few tips on how to deal with the unexpected stress of spring.

Take a Break from the Screen

Huffington Post says that too much time in front of your computer without breaks can increase depression and decrease the quality of your sleep. It’s easy to get caught up in planning for holidays like Easter if you celebrate, which means you’ll be on electronic devices a lot. Don’t let these gadgets completely dominate your attention for

too long or else you too can fall victim to becoming a screen zombie. If planning and writing notes makes you feel more in control, put pen to paper. You can still fixate on your to-do lists or agenda as long as you don’t do it on the computer. Take a break from the screen, rest your eyes, makes some notes and you’ll be in much better mental shape overall.

Assessing and Destressing Easter

Real Simple advocates for a relaxed approach to Easter that can either be deeply religious or secular, but always age appropriate. If you’re not religious, don’t go overboard. You don’t have to cook a lamb or do every single tradition. Kids will be happy to find chocolate in the yard in plastic eggs. You don’t have to make the day into a nightmarish hybrid of Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day and all the pressures come with them.

Keep your sanity while you still have it, and just try to have a good time. If you’re religious on the other hand, planning ahead and having a headcount for any extra guests will go a long way. The day of Easter will also have a structure based on the time of church services and subsequent activities. If you don’t want to slave over a meal, suggest a church potluck or group activity. It will save you a lot of trouble and also act as a fun social activity.

Stop to Smell the Flowers

Everyone knows this expression, but stop to think about what it really means for a moment. In this case, we suggest you actually stop to smell the flowers. Fresh flowers and other greenery in your home can act as the ultimate antidepressant, functioning on multiple levels. Find a fragrant bloom that you’re not allergic to and place it strategically throughout your home. This dually activates the sense via smell and sight. Spring is all about blossoming and renewal. Having something as simple as an aesthetically pleasing, pleasant smelling bouquet on your kitchen table can have a marked positive effect on mood.

Accept Your Own Feelings

Sometimes, feelings don’t seem to make sense. It’s just the reality of life and being human. While everyone around you is pulling out breezy outfits and raving about how warm it is, you might feel down in the dumps. Rest assured that it’s not just you. Nonetheless, it’s hard to feel accepting of yourself when your emotions don’t match the expectations of delight that springtime brings.

Work on getting in touch with self-acceptance and take your feelings at face value. It’s okay to not be thrilled about spring. There’ll always be another one as long as you keep living. Spring stress can emerge at major holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving where you’re expected to be in good spirits at all times and put on a festive show. However, unlike those holidays, it’s easier to take a step back from springtime expectations.

Coping with spring stress is all about honing emotional intelligence, self-acceptance and self-awareness. Therapy with an Allen family counselor can help when you’re trying to find constructive ways to deal with the spring holiday blues. This is especially true if you experience the same types of feelings annually. Sorting through feelings is totally doable, but getting a little help never hurts regardless of the time of year.

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Jennifer Slingerland Ryan knows a thing or two about kids and families. First, she knows they are joyous, exhilarating, loving and so darn fun. Second, she knows they suck your life dry and make you weep like a baby.
By day she’s a psychotherapist; by night she’s a mom and wife. She claims to love therapizing couples, educating parents, reading dystopian fiction and sleeping in her free time (read: she never sleeps).
Jennifer has spent over 12 years in private practice working with individuals, couples, and parents who are faced with kid-drama, mamma-drama, and family-drama, and she claims that although some stories make a grown woman cry, she loves it.